Sloth, in the balance of it all....A reflection and a pardon

Today I had a snow day - a good old fashioned "no school" because of snowy weather. Though it came late by most standards, 5:30am, I had showered and washed my hair - I was still happy to get the text from a dear friend from school.

I had to stay up long enough to dry my curly mop, and in doing so enjoyed the dawn of the day and the snowy vista. Eventually I sunk into slumber and enjoyed an unplanned cat nap until 9am. I frittered the morning away - but gleefully dressed for the excavation of my car. Having parked on a Tuesday/Friday side I was doomed to get plowed in. Adding insult to injury, my car was parked in front of a well tended building where the Super had snow blown his sidewalk clear, impacting my car on the other side. This hour project was fun - I got the car cleared out enough and thru some of the snow BACK into the street ! I started the vehicle and moved the tires enough to secure a start spot for tomorrow where I will try again to leave my trusty spot - and I will get a sack of cat litter to assist just in case.

I came in and had tomato soup. That's what you have on a snow day; tomato soup. I made a piece of toast, Gluten Free, and had a slice of goat Mammoth cheese to go with it; an ample substitute for a grilled cheese product sandwich.

Then, I didn't do much of anything. All day.

I surfed the Internet. Did no reading, really. Sat and thought about this and that.

Sent out a few texts, talked to my mom, wrote a few emails, commented to a few FB posts....and watched the sun come out in the afternoon.

Dinner was uneventful, and the sum total of the day would include accessorizing a pirate costume for my godson.

That was my day. I did not get ahead on any project, and I didn't catch up on anything.

I just was.

Tonight I Googled the Seven Deadly Sins and Virtues.

Of all of the Sins, SLOTH is among them and I exhibited it today in spades.

I felt really down about that for a while.

Then I reviewed the virtues. Charity, humility, kindness, justice, patience and thought to myself; yes, I, along with my colleagues at my school, do practice these countless times throughout our days and weeks. There are the unspoken acts of kindness, the generosity during crises, the many times we articulate, "..oh, my mistake, I'm sorry," the fight for fairness and advocacy for those who cannot fend for themselves, and the fortitude to say, " let's try that again..."

Yes, okay - I was a sloth today.

And I hope many of my colleagues were, too.

I offer that we earned it. No guilt, no regret.

Tomorrow is Saturday and we will do laundry, shopping, get out and do what has to be done.

But for today, there was Sloth.

And it was good.

A Conservative Nudge & A Dash of Fate

Tonight I watched Glenn Beck on Fox News as he spoke in the closing hour of the 2010 CPAC (Conservative Political Action Convention) in Washington, DC.

Now before you get all excited and politicized and polarized and opinionated, just listen, well READ for a moment. I do try to look at a variety of views and take good parts from what the kaleidoscope of speakers has to offer; sometimes the pickings are slim, but, it gets like that at the end of the buffet line at Golden Corral, too.

Say what ever about Beck, but I admire his humility in his very public ownership of being an alcoholic, as is demonstrated by his reference to it this very evening. He has other engaging qualities; and he is funny; he will be the first to laugh at himself within a minute of being the Grim Reaper of Doom & Gloom for America's future. So, that said, here's the take away message I had.

Get your sh** together, Anne.

Grow up. Face your fears. Take responsibility.

Do the hard thing.

Make the tough choices.

Do it now; while you are only 45, and you have a lot of time to fix and reinvest in yourself.

In direct terms, that means; pay off the credit card debt. Put the cards away.

Do without things - stop spending money on impulse stupid stuff, (electric pencil sharpeners NOT included).

Take care of yourself - deal with the body stuff.

Get rid of the clutter that has insidiously gathered in your residence of over 14 years now.

Remind those you love that you love them; they need to hear it.

Use the resources around you make what is old, new again.

Reread some books, chapters, journals that inspire you.

Borrow books, don't buy them.

I am happy, healthy, honest, trustworthy, smart, loved. Act like it.

No one owes you anything; but you owe faceless institutions a lot; get on it.

I went to cancel an order I had placed on HSN just over a week ago. There was no record of it.

ANYWHERE ! I guess it didn't go through; I am thankful. It is a sign I am headed in the right direction. Right, as in correct, political affiliation not withstanding.

What else ?

So, looks like I won't be going to OG this summer; but I can find another way to take a break somewhere and enjoy myself. I have a great NYC pad; clean it up, clear it out; don't be afraid to through stuff away - or recycle it. I am going to have to work to fund my further course study but that is an investment - different than an expense. The returns will be seen next year.

So, if you see that I am dining out less, (but mind you, that doesn't mean a draconian abstinence from dining out), carrying my own Gluten Free lunches and snacks about you now know why ! I am going to knuckle down and work toward some inner peace.

Much love to you all !

Annie B

It's Snow, It's Okay...Happy Snow Day to YOU !

Thank you for the Snow Day, Mama Nature !

I love a good snowfall.

I enjoy walking around in the crisp air with little flakes plucking my face or going up my nose or wetting my glasses so I cannot see.

I appreciate an occasional update on the television about how things are going in the Big Apple and reports about troublesome roads or undue delays.

I do NOT like all day coverage of a snowfall that is a storm in the most classic sense.

I do NOT like hearing the drone of making a Kilimanjaro out of a West Mountain ski slope.

Honestly, New Yorkers, don't you think the coverage for this is a bit overkill ?

Really, don't you ?

While Washington, DC is certainly out of sorts for their seasonal climate expectations, is it so terribly unexpected for New York City ? For those of you from northern heritage; particularly my Rochester, Buffalo peeps, are you not laughing at all this ?

Cancelling school and advising not to travel unnecessarily is a good, no a great idea. School buses and slippery roads make for a bad combo. No one HAS to get to Target today; and if you are a supervisor of someone in retail; cut them some slack; be thankful they got in at all.

Same is probably true for anyone who travels to work tomorrow. Be grateful they are there, safely.

So, if you haven't gone out in the snow - get your boots on and go; chances are it's still fresh enough to look inviting; picture perfect even !! I saw some kids sliding down a hill in the neighborhood, and I truly wanted to join them !!

Take in the serene beauty that is not airbrushed or computer generated.

Hot cocoa for all, and to all, good Snow Day !